Organic electronic material, ink composition, and organic electronic element

ABSTRACT

Provided is an organic electronic material which is excellent in storage stability in the case as an ink composition, and able to prepare, at a high yield, an organic electronic element capable of reducing the driving voltage and of being driven stably for a long period of time, and an ink composition including the organic electronic material. The organic electronic material is characterized in that it contains at least an ionic compound represented by the following general formula (1), and a compound including a charge transporting unit, and the ink composition including the material. 
     [In the general formula (1), R a  to R c  each independently represent a hydrogen atom (H), an alkyl group, or a benzyl group, and N is not bonded to an aryl group. A represents an anion.]

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an organic electronic material, an inkcomposition, an organic electronic element, and an organicelectroluminescent element (hereinafter, also referred to as an organicEL element).

BACKGROUND ART

Organic electronic elements are elements intended for electricaloperations with the use of organic matters, expected to be able toprovide features such as energy conservation, low prices, andflexibility, and attracting attention as alternative techniques toconventional inorganic semiconductors mainly containing silicon.

Examples of the organic electronic elements include organic EL elements,organic photoelectric conversion elements, and organic transistors.

Among the organic electronic elements, the organic EL elements areattracting attention, for example, as alternatives to incandescent lampsand gas-filled lamps, and for use as large-area solid-state lightsources. In addition, the organic EL elements are also attractingattention as most likely self-luminous displays in place of liquidcrystal displays (LCD) in the field of flat panel display (FPD), andincreasingly put into production.

In recent years, for the purpose of improving the organic EL elements inluminescent efficiency and lifetime, attempts have been made to use acharge transporting compound mixed with an electron-accepting compound.

For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a composition composed of anionic compound and a charge transporting compound, as a composition forcharge transporting films.

However, these materials fail to sufficiently achieve effects such asreductions in driving voltage and improvements in luminescent efficiencyand lifetime. Furthermore, the materials are low in thermal stability,deteriorated by baking in the preparation of organic EL elements or bydriving organic EL elements, and the organic EL elements have problemsof decreases in luminescent efficiency and lifetime and variations incharacteristics of the organic EL elements. Moreover, there has been aproblem that decomposition products resulting from the electronaccepting compound in baking in the preparation of elements damageorganic EL manufacturing devices, etc. to decrease the productivity.

On the other hand, the organic EL elements are classified roughly intotwo types of: low molecular weight-type organic EL elements and highmolecular weight-type organic EL elements, according to materials andfilm forming methods used. The high molecular weight-type organic ELelements are essential elements to large-screen organic EL displays inthe future, because organic materials are composed of high molecularweight materials, and able to be easily formed by printing, ink-jetprinting, etc., as compared with the low molecular weight-type organicEL elements which require film formation in a vacuum system.

Both the low molecular weight-type organic EL elements and highmolecular weight-type organic EL elements have been energeticallyresearched, but still have the significant problem of being low inluminescent efficiency and short in element lifetime. As one means forsolving this problem, multi-layered elements have been attempted for thelow molecular weight-type organic EL elements.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a multi-layered organic EL element. Inassociation with FIG. 1, a layer in charge of light emission is referredto as a light emitting layer 1, and in the case of including otherlayers, a layer in contact with an anode 2 is referred to as a holeinjecting layer 3, and a layer in contact with a cathode 4 is referredto as an electron injecting layer 5. Furthermore, when there is adistinct layer between the light emitting layer 1 and the hole injectinglayer 3, the distinct layer is referred to as a hole transporting layer6, and furthermore, when there is a distinct layer between the lightemitting layer 1 and the electron injecting layer 5, the distinct layeris referred to as an electron transporting layer 7. It is to be notedthat reference numeral 8 denotes a substrate in FIG. 1.

For the low molecular weight-type organic EL elements, films are formedby a vapor deposition method, and multi-layered elements can be thuseasily achieved by carrying out vapor deposition while sequentiallychanging compounds used. On the other hand, for the high molecularweight-type organic EL elements, films are formed with the use of a wetprocess such as printing or ink-jet printing, and a problem is thuscaused which is that the lower layer is dissolved when the upper layeris applied. Therefore, it is difficult to achieve multi-layered highmolecular weight-type organic EL elements, as compared with the lowmolecular weight-type organic EL elements, and it has not been possibleto achieve the effect of improving the luminescent efficiency orimproving the lifetime.

In order to address this problem, several methods have been everproposed. One of the methods is a method of using a difference insolubility. For example, there is an element that has a two-layerstructure of: a hole-injecting layer of water-solublepolythiophene:poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS); and a light emittinglayer formed with the use of an aromatic organic solvent such astoluene. In this case, the PEDOT:PSS layer is not dissolved in thearomatic solvent such as toluene, and it is thus possible to prepare thetwo-layer structure.

Patent Literature 2 discloses an element of three-layer structure, whichhas a layer referred to as an interlayer layer introduced on PEDOT:PSS.

These methods for multi-layers are important, but problematic in thatthe use of water-soluble PEDOT:PSS requires baking for a long period oftime because of the need to remove water remaining in thin films, andthat evaporated water damages manufacturing devices. In addition, therehave been manufacturing problems such as the need for heating at hightemperature for insolubilization of hole transporting layers, thusdecreases in lifetime and luminescent efficiency of the organic ELelements due to material deterioration by the heating, and a step ofrinsing dissolved matters for inadequate changes in solubility.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: JP 2006-233162 A

Patent Literature 2: JP 2007-520858 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In view of the problems mentioned above, an object of the presentinvention is to provide an organic electronic material which is high inthermal stability, excellent in storage stability in the case as an inkcomposition, and able to prepare, at a high yield, an organic electronicelement capable of reducing the driving voltage and of being drivenstably for a long period of time, and an ink composition including theorganic electronic material.

Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide anorganic electronic element and an organic EL element which include alayer with charge transporting performance better than ever before.

Solution to Problem

The inventors have, as a result of earnest studies, found that amaterial according to the present invention, which is obtained bycombining an ionic compound that has a specific structure with acompound including a charge transporting unit, can solve some of theproblems mentioned above, thereby completing the present invention

More specifically, the present invention is characterized by thefollowing aspects <1>to <11>.

<1> An organic electronic material comprising at least an ionic compoundrepresented by the following general formula (1), and a compoundincluding a charge transporting unit (hereinafter, referred to as acharge transporting compound).

[In the general formula (1), R^(a) to R_(c) each independently representa hydrogen atom (H), an alkyl group, or a benzyl group, and N is notbonded to an aryl group. A represents an anion.]

<2> The organic electronic material according to <1>, wherein the anionis represented by the following formulas (1b) to (5b).

[In the general formulas (1b) to (5b), Y¹ to Y⁶ each independentlyrepresent a divalent linking group, and R¹ to R¹⁶ each independentlyrepresent an electron attractive organic substituent (these structuresmay further have substituents and hetero atoms therein, and R² and R³,R⁴ to R⁶, R⁷ to R¹⁰, or R¹¹ to R¹⁶ may be each linked to form a ring ora polymer). E¹, E², E³, E⁴, and E⁵ respectively represent an oxygenatom, a nitrogen atom, a carbon atom, a boron atom or a gallium atom,and a phosphorus atom or an antimony atom.]

<3> The organic electronic material according to <1> or <2>, wherein thecharge transporting unit is an aromatic amine, a carbazole, or athiophene.

<4> The organic electronic material according to any of <1> to <3>,wherein the charge transporting compound is a polymer or an oligomer.

<5> The organic electronic material according to any of <1> to <4>,wherein the charge transporting compound includes one or morepolymerizable substituents.

<6> The organic electronic material according to <5>, wherein thepolymerizable substituents are any of an oxetane group, an epoxy group,and a vinyl ether group.

<7> An ink composition comprising the organic electronic materialaccording to any of <1> to <6> and a solvent.

<8> An organic electronic element including a layer formed by anapplication method with the use of the organic electronic materialaccording to any one of <1> to <6> or the ink composition according to<7>.

<9> The organic electronic element according to <8>, wherein the layerformed by the application method is polymerized for insolubilization.

<10> The organic electronic element according to <9>, wherein anotherlayer is further formed on the insolubilized layer to provide amulti-layer.

<11> The organic electronic element according to any of <8> to <10>,wherein the substrate is a resin film.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The present invention can provide an organic electronic material whichis high in thermal stability, excellent in storage stability in the caseas an ink composition, and able to prepare, at a high yield, an organicelectronic element capable of reducing the driving voltage and of beingdriven stably for a long period of time, and an ink compositionincluding the organic electronic material.

Further, the present invention can provide an organic electronic elementand an organic EL element which include a layer with charge transportingperformance better than ever before.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a multi-layeredorganic EL element.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS <Organic Electronic Material>

An organic electronic material according to the present invention ischaracterized in that it contains at least an ionic compound representedby the following general formula (1), and a compound including a chargetransporting unit (hereinafter, referred to as a charge transportingcompound).

[In the general formula (1), R^(a) to R^(c) each independently representa hydrogen atom (H), an alkyl group, or a benzyl group, and N is notbonded to an aryl group. A represents an anion.]

In the present invention, the ionic compound represented by the generalformula (1) is characterized in that at least one of the foursubstituents N is a hydrogen atom, and none of the substituents islinked to an aryl group. More specifically, N in the general formula (1)is linked to a hydrogen atom (H), an alkyl group, or a benzyl group, butnot linked to an aryl group, and such a composition improves stabilityagainst heat and light, and thus improves the stability of an inkcomposition which contains the compound including the chargetransporting unit and a solvent. Moreover, the ionic compound can beused as a polymerization initiator, and a stacked element obtainedthrough the use of an application method can be prepared by thecombination with a compound including a polymerizable substituent. Inaddition, a film formed with the use of an ink composition including theionic compound is high in charge transporting capacity, and useful inorganic electronic applications.

In the general formula (1), R^(a) to R^(c) may be the same, ordifferent. R^(a) to R^(c) may be linked to form a ring.

The alkyl group in the general formula (1) may be straight, branched, orcyclic, may have substituents, and typically has approximately 1 to 20carbon atoms, and specific examples of the alkyl group include a methylgroup, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an i-propyl group, a butyl group,an i-butyl group, a t-butyl group, a pentyl group, a hexyl group, acyclohexyl group, a heptyl group, an octyl group, a 2-ethylhexyl group,a nonyl group, a decyl group, an undecyl group, a dodecyl group, atridecyl group, an isotridecyl group, a tetradecyl group, a pentadecylgroup, a hexadecyl group, an isohexadecyl group, a heptadecyl group, anoctadecyl group, a nonadecyl group, an icosyl group, a 3,7-dimethyloctylgroup, a lauryl group, a trifluoromethyl group, a pentafluoroethylgroup, a perfluorobutyl group, a perfluorohexyl group, and aperfluorooctyl group.

In order to increase the solubility as an ink composition in a solvent,at least one of R^(a) to R^(c) is desirably an alkyl group or a benzylgroup, at least two of R^(a) to R^(c) are more desirably an alkyl groupor a benzyl group, and all of R^(a) to R^(c) are desirably an alkylgroup or a benzyl group.

In order to improve the thermal stability, all of R^(a) to R^(c) arepreferably an alkyl group. In order to improve curability at lowtemperatures as an initiator, at least one of R^(a) to R^(c) isdesirably a benzyl group.

In the case of dissolving the compound in an alkane or an aromaticsolvent, the total number of carbon atoms of R^(a) to R^(c) ispreferably 6 or more, further preferably 9 or more, and most preferably12 or more, from the perspective of improving the solubility.

In the general formula (1), while A is not particularly limited as longas it is a conventionally known anion, anions represented by thefollowing general formulas (1b) to (5b) are preferred in manufacturingorganic electronic elements, in particular, organic EL elements whichare able to be reduced in driving voltage and stably driven for a longperiod of time.

[In the general formulas (1b) to (5b), Y¹ to Y⁶ each independentlyrepresent a divalent linking group, and R¹ to R¹⁶ each independentlyrepresent an electron attractive organic substituent (these structuresmay further have substituents and hetero atoms therein, and R² and R³,R⁴ to R⁶, R⁷ to R¹⁰, or R¹¹ to R¹⁶ may be each linked to form a ring ora polymer). E¹, E², E³, E⁴, and E⁵ respectively represent an oxygenatom, a nitrogen atom, a carbon atom, a boron atom or a gallium atom,and a phosphorus atom or an antimony atom.]

Examples of the electron attractive organic substituents (R¹ to R¹⁶ inthe formulas) include: halogen atoms such as a fluorine atom, a chlorineatom, and a bromine atom; alkylsulfonyl groups such as a cyano group, athiocyano group, a nitro group, and a mesyl group; arylsulfonyl groupssuch as a tosyl group; acyl groups typically having 1 to 12, preferablyto 6 carbon atoms, such as a formyl group, an acetyl group, and abenzoyl group; alkoxycarbonyl groups typically having 2 to 10,preferably to 7 carbon atoms, such as a methoxycarbonyl group and anethoxycarbonyl group; aryloxycarbonyl groups including an aromatichydrocarbon group or an aromatic heterocyclic group typically having 3,preferably 4, to 25, preferably to 15 carbon atoms, such as aphenoxycarbonyl group and a pyridyloxycarbonyl group; acyloxy groupstypically having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, such as an acetoxy group;haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, and haloalkynyl groups obtained by substituting,with a halogen atom such as a fluorine atom and a chlorine atom,straight, branched, or cyclic alkyl, alkenyl, and alkynyl groupstypically having 1 to 10, preferably to 6 carbon atoms, such as analkyloxysulfonyl group, an aryloxysulfonyl group, a trifluoromethylgroup, and a pentafluoroethyl group; and haloaryl groups typicallyhaving 6 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a pentafluorophenyl group. Amongthese groups, from the perspective of being able to efficientlydelocalize negative charges, more preferred are groups obtained bysubstituting, with halogen atoms such as fluorine, some or all ofhydrogen atoms of the groups having hydrogen atoms among the organicgroups mentioned above, for example, but not limited to, straight,branched, or cyclic perfluoroalkyl groups, perfluoroalkylsulfonylgroups, perfluoroaryl groups, perfluoroalkyloxysulfonyl groups,perfluoroarylsulfonyl groups, perfluoroaryloxysulfonyl groups,perfluoroacyl groups, perfluoroalkoxycarbonyl groups, perfluoroacyloxygroups, perfluoroaryloxycarbonyl groups, perfluoroalkenyl groups, andperfluoroalkynyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, which may includehetero atoms, as represented by the following group of structuralformulas (1). Further, among these groups, preferred are straight andbranched perfluoroalkyl groups having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, cyclicperfluoroalkyl groups having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, and perfluoroarylgroups having 6 to 18 carbon atoms.

Group of Structural Formulas (1)

In addition, Y¹ to Y⁶ in the general formulas represent a divalentlinking group, specifically, which is preferably any one of thefollowing formulas (1c) to (11c).

(In the formulas, R represents any organic group (these structures mayfurther have substituents and hetero atoms therein).)

R in the general formulas (7c) to (11c) preferably represents,independently of each other, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, analkynyl group, an aromatic hydrocarbon group, or an aromaticheterocyclic group which may be substituted, from the perspective ofimprovement in electron acceptability and solubility in solvents, andmore preferably an organic group having an electron attractivesubstituent among the previously mentioned substituents, and examples ofthe organic group include groups in the group of structural formulas(1).

In addition, the anion in the present invention preferably has anegative charge, but not particularly limited to, mainly on an oxygenatom, a nitrogen atom, a carbon atom, a boron atom, or a gallium atom,more preferably on an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, a carbon atom, or aboron atom, and most preferably represented by the following formula(12c), (13c), (14c), or (15c).

(In the formulas, R_(F1) to R_(F10) each independently represent anelectron attractive organic substituent (these structures may furtherhave substituents and hetero atoms therein, and R_(F1) to R_(F9) may beeach linked to form a ring or a polymer), and examples of the organicsubstituent include, but not limited to, the groups represented by thegroup of structural formulas (1), for example.)

[Charge Transporting Compound]

The “charge transporting compound” in the present invention will bedescribed in detail. In the present invention, the charge transportingcompound refers to a compound including a charge transporting unit. Inthe present invention, the “charge transporting unit” refers to an atomgroup that has the ability to transport holes or electrons, and will bedescribed below in detail.

The charge transporting unit only has to have the ability to transportholes or electrons, and is preferably, but not particularly limited to,an amine, a carbazole, or a thiophene having an aromatic ring. Specificexamples thereof include those described in WO 2011/132702 A. Amongthese examples, in particular, the following amine structures (1) to(14) are preferred. While the meanings of E, Ar, and X in the followingamine structures (1) to (14) are described in detail in the publicationmentioned above, here are brief descriptions thereof.

E each independently represents —R¹, —OR², —SR³, —OCOR⁴, —COOR⁵, or—SiR⁶R⁷R⁸ (provided that R¹ to R⁸ represent a hydrogen atom, a straight,cyclic, or branched alkyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms, or an arylgroup or a heteroaryl group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms), and Ar eachindependently represents an arylene group or a heteroarylene grouphaving 2 to 30 carbon atoms. The arylene group and heteroaryl group mayhave substituents. X and Z each independently a divalent linking group,which is preferably, but not limited to, a group obtained by furtherremoving one hydrogen atom from the group having one or more hydrogenatoms among the previously mentioned groups R. x represents an integerof 0 to 2. Y represents a trivalent linking group, which represents agroup obtained by removing two hydrogen atoms from the group having twoor more hydrogen atoms among the previously mentioned R.

In addition, the charge transporting compound in the present inventionis not particularly limited, which may be commercially availablecompounds, or synthesized by methods known to one skilled in the art.

In addition, the charge transporting compound in the present inventionmay be a low molecular weight compound, or may be a high molecularweight compound such as a polymer or an oligomer. The high molecularweight compound such as a polymer or an oligomer is preferred from theperspective of solubility in organic solvents, whereas the low molecularweight compound is preferred from the perspective of easy purificationby sublimation or recrystallization.

When the charge transporting compound in the present invention is apolymer or an oligomer, a polymer or an oligomer that has a structurebranched in three or more directions is preferred from the perspectiveof lowering the temperature for progressing an adequate polymerizationreaction. In addition, this branched structure can increase the glasstransition temperature of the polymer or oligomer, and thus also makes acontribution to an improvement in the heat resistance of the polymer oroligomer.

This branched structure means that when a chain with the highest degreeof polymerization is regarded as a main chain among various chains in amolecule of the polymer or oligomer, a side chain with the same degreeof polymerization or a lower degree of polymerization is linked to themain chain. The degree of polymerization in the present invention refersto the number of monomer units for use in synthesizing the polymer oroligomer, which are contained per molecule of the polymer or oligomer.The side chain in the present invention refers to a chain including atleast one or more polymerization units, which is different from the mainchain of the polymer or oligomer, and the other chains are regarded asnot side chains but substituents.

The method for forming the branched structure is not particularlylimited, but the polymer or oligomer may be formed with the use of amonomer that has three or more polymerizable sites in a molecule, orformed by forming linear polymers or oligomers, followed by thepolymerization of the polymers or oligomers with each other.

Specifically, any one of structures of the following general formulas(1) to (10) is preferably included as an origin unit for forming thebranched structure in the polymer or oligomer.

(In the formulas, Ar each independently represents a divalent linkinggroup, and represents an arylene group or a heteroarylene group having 2to 30 carbon atoms. The arylene group is an atom group of an aromatichydrocarbon with two hydrogen atoms removed therefrom, which may havesubstituents, and examples thereof include, for example, phenylene,biphenyl-diyl, terphenyl-diyl, naphthalene-diyl, anthracene-diyl,tetracene-diyl, fluorene-diyl, and phenanthrene-diyl. The heteroarylenegroup is an atom group of an aromatic compound having a hetero atom withtwo hydrogen atoms removed therefrom, which may have substituents, andexamples thereof include, for example, pyridine-diyl, pyrazine-diyl,quinoline-diyl, isoquinoline-diyl, acridine-diyl, phenanthroline-diyl,furan-diyl, pyrrole-diyl, thiophene-diyl, oxazole-diyl, oxadiazole-diyl,thiadiazole-diyl, triazole-diyl, benzoxazole-diyl, benzoxadiazole-diyl,benzothiadiazole-diyl, benzotriazole-diyl, and benzothiophene-diyl. Wrepresents a trivalent linking group, which is an atom group of thearylene group or heteroarylene group with one hydrogen atom furtherremoved therefrom, which may have substituents. Y each independentlyrepresents a divalent linking group. Z represents any of a carbon atom,a silicon atom, and a phosphorus atom.)

Y in the general formulas (4) and (7) is preferably a divalent linkinggroup represented by the following formulas.

(In the formula, R each independently represents a hydrogen atom, astraight, cyclic, or branched alkyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms,or an aryl group or a heteroaryl group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms. Inthis case, the aryl group is an atom group of an aromatic hydrocarbonwith one hydrogen atom removed therefrom, which may have substituents,whereas the heteroaryl group is an atom group of an aromatic compoundhaving a hetero atom with one hydrogen atom removed therefrom, which mayhave substituents.)

Furthermore, the charge transporting compound in the present inventionpreferably has one or more “polymerizable substituents”, in order tochange the solubility to prepare a stacked structure of organic thinfilms. The “polymerizable substituents” herein refers to substituentswhich are able to form bonds between two or more molecules by developinga polymerization reaction, and will be described below in detail.

Examples of the polymerizable substituents include groups having acarbon-carbon multiple bond (examples thereof can include, for example,a vinyl group, an acetylene group, a butenyl group, an acrylic group, anacrylate group, an acrylamide group, a methacrylic group, a methacrylategroup, a methacrylamide group, an arene group, an allyl group, a vinylether group, a vinyl amino group, a furyl group, a pyrrole group, athiophene group, and a silole group), groups having a small ring (forexample, a cyclopropyl group, a cyclobutyl group, an epoxy group, anoxetane group, a diketene group, an episulfide group), and groupscontaining a lactone group, a lactam group, or a siloxane derivative.Further, in addition to the groups mentioned above, groups which areable to form an ester linkage or an amide linkage can be also used incombination. The combinations include, for example, combinations such asan ester group and an amino group, and an ester group and a hydroxylgroup. As the polymerizable substituents, in particular, an oxetanegroup, an epoxy group, a vinyl group, a vinylether group, an acrylategroup, and a methacrylate group are preferred from the perspective ofreactivity, and an oxetane group is most preferred. From the perspectiveof increasing the degree of freedom of the polymerizable substituents tomake a curing reaction likely to be developed, the main chain of thepolymer or oligomer and the polymerizable substituents are morepreferably linked through an alkyl chain having 1 to 8 carbon atoms.

In addition, the polymer or oligomer in the present invention may becopolymers having, as copolymerization repeating units, structuresrepresented by the following group of structural formulas (X) as thearylene group or heteroarylene group, in addition to repeating unitsrepresented by the general formulas (1a) to (84a) described in WO2011/132702 A mentioned previously, in order to adjust the solubility,heat resistance, or electrical properties. In this case, the copolymermay be a random, block, or graft copolymer, or may be a polymer whichhas an intermediate structure between the copolymers, for example, ablock-like random copolymer. In addition, the polymer or oligomer foruse in the present invention may be branched in the main chain, withthree or more terminals. It is to be noted that R in the group ofstructural formulas (X) each independently represents a hydrogen atom, astraight, cyclic, or branched alkyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms,or an aryl group or a heteroaryl group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms.

[Group of Structural Formulas (X)]

In addition, when the charge transporting compound is a polymer or anoligomer, the number average molecular weight is preferably 1,000 ormore and 1,000,000 or less from the perspective of solubility insolvents and film formation property. The number average molecularweight is more preferably 2,000 or more and 900,000 or less, furtherpreferably 3,000 or more and 800,000 or less. The number averagemolecular weight less than 1,000 makes the compound likely to becrystallized, thereby resulting in deterioration of film formationproperty. In addition, the molecular weight more than 1,000,000decreases the solubility in solvents, thereby making it difficult toprepare an applied solution or an applied ink.

In addition, the organic electronic material according to the presentinvention preferably includes a polymerization initiator, in order toutilize the difference in solubility caused by a polymerizationreaction.

The polymerization initiator is not particularly limited as long as theinitiator shows the ability to polymerize the polymerizable substituentsby applying heat, light, microwaves, radiation, electron beams, or thelike but preferably a polymerization initiator which initiatespolymerization by light irradiation and/or heating.

In addition, the ionic compound according to the present invention canbe used alone as a polymerization initiator.

In order to form various types of layers for use in organic electronicelements and the like with the use of the organic electronic materialaccording to the present invention, for example, a solution (inkcomposition) containing the organic electronic material according to thepresent invention can be applied onto a desired base body by a knownmethod such as, for example, an ink-jet method, a casting method, adipping method, printing methods, e.g., relief printing, intaglioprinting, offset printing, planographic printing, relief reverse offsetprinting, screen printing, and gravure printing, a spin coating method,and then subjected to light irradiation, heat treatment, or the like toprogress a polymerization reaction of the polymer or oligomer, andchange the solubility of the applied layer (curing). The repetition ofsuch work makes it possible to increase the number of layers forhigh-molecular type organic electronic elements and organic EL elements.

The application method as described above can be typically implementedin the temperature range of −20 to +300° C., preferably 10 to 100° C.,particularly preferably 15 to 50° C., and examples of the solvent foruse in the solution described above include, but not particularlylimited to, for example, solvents for use in the preparation of an inkcomposition as will be described later.

In addition, for the light irradiation mentioned above, light sourcescan be used such as low-pressure mercury vapor lamps, medium-pressuremercury vapor lamps, high-pressure mercury vapor lamps,ultrahigh-pressure mercury vapor lamps, metal halide lamps, xenon lamps,fluorescent lights, light emitting diodes, and sunlight.

In addition, the heat treatment can be carried out on a hot plate or inan oven, and carried out in the temperature range of 0 to +300° C.,preferably 50 to 250° C., particularly preferably 80 to 200° C.

<Ink Composition>

An ink composition according to the present invention is characterizedin that it contains the already described organic electronic materialaccording to the present invention, and a solvent, and may contain otheradditives, for example, a polymerization inhibitor, a stabilizer, athickener, a gelator, a flame retardant, an antioxidant, anantireductant, an oxidant, a reductant, a surface modifier, anemulsifier, an antifoamer, a dispersant, and a surfactant. Examples ofthe solvent include: water; alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, andisopropyl alcohol; alkanes such as pentane, hexane, and octane; cyclicalkanes such as cyclohexane; aromatic solvents such as benzene, toluene,xylene, mesitylene, tetralin, and diphenylmethane; aliphatic ethers suchas ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, ethylene glycol diethyl ether, andpropylene glycol-1-monomethyl ether acetate; aromatic ethers such as1,2-dimethoxybenzene, 1,3-dimethoxybenzene, anisole, phenetole,2-methoxytoluene, 3-methoxytoluene, 4-methoxytoluene,2,3-dimethylanisole, and 2,4-dimethylanisole; aliphatic esters such asethyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, ethyl lactate, and n-butyl lactate;aromatic esters such as phenyl acetate, phenyl propionate, methylbenzoate, ethyl benzoate, propyl benzoate, and n-butyl benzoate; amidesolvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide and N,N-dimethylacetoamide; andother solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide, tetrahydrofuran, acetone,chloroform, and methylene chloride, and preferably, aromatic solvents,aliphatic esters, aromatic esters, aliphatic ethers, and aromatic etherscan be used.

In the ink composition according to the present invention, the contentof the organic electronic material with respect to the solvent ispreferably 0.1 to 30 mass % from the perspective of being applicable tovarious application processes.

<Organic Electronic Element, Organic Electroluminescent Element>

An organic electronic element according to the present inventionincludes a layer formed by an application method with the use of theorganic electronic material or ink composition mentioned above, andfurther an insolubilized layer obtained by polymerizing the formedlayer.

Likewise, an organic electroluminescent element (organic EL element)according to the present invention includes a layer formed with the useof the organic electronic material or ink composition mentioned above,and further an insolubilized layer obtained by polymerizing the formedlayer.

The elements each include the excellent layer formed with the use of theorganic electronic material according to the present invention, and hasa lower driving voltage and a longer emission lifetime than ever before.

An EL element according to the present invention will be described belowin detail.

[Organic EL Element]

The organic EL element according to the present invention is notparticularly limited as long as the element includes a light emittinglayer, a polymerized layer, an anode, a cathode, and a substrate, butmay have other layers such as a hole injecting layer, an electroninjecting layer, a hole transporting layer, and an electron transportinglayer. Further, the hole injecting layer, hole transporting layer, orlight emitting layer is preferably a layer formed with the use of theorganic electronic material or ink composition according to the presentinvention.

The respective layers will be described below in detail.

(Light Emitting Layer)

The material for use in the light emitting layer may be a low molecularweight compound or may be a polymer or an oligomer, and it is alsopossible to use dendrimers and the like. Low molecular weight compoundswhich use fluorescence emissions include perylene, coumarin, rubrene,quinacridone, dyes for dye laser (for example, rhodamine, DCM1, etc.),aluminum complexes (for example, Tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum(III) (Alq₃)), stilbene, and derivatives thereof. Polyfluorene,polyphenylene, polyphenylenevinylene (PPV), polyvinylcarbazole (PVK), afluorene-benzothiadiazole copolymer, a fluorene-triphenylaminecopolymer, and derivatives and mixtures thereof can be used in apreferred manner as polymers or oligomers which use fluorescenceemissions.

On the other hand, in recent years, phosphorescent organic EL elementshave been also actively developed in order to achieve higher-efficiencyorganic EL elements. Phosphorescent organic EL elements are able to usenot only energy in singlet states, but also energy in triplet states,and increase the internal quantum yields up to 100% in principle. In thecase of phosphorescent organic EL elements, a host material is dopedwith a phosphorescent material of metal complex including a heavy metalsuch as platinum or iridium as a dopant that produces phosphorescence toextract phosphorescent emissions (see M. A. Baldo et al., Nature, vol.395, p. 151 (1998), M. A. Baldo et al., Applied Physics Letters, vol.75, p. 4 (1999), M. A. Baldo et al., Nature, vol. 403, p. 750 (2000)).

Also in the case of the organic EL element according to the presentinvention, it is preferable to use a phosphorescent material for thelight emitting layer, from the perspective of higher efficiency. As thephosphorescent material, metal complexes and the like including acentral metal such as Ir or Pt can be used in a preferred manner.Specifically, Ir complexes include, for example, FIr(pic)[iridium (III)bis[(4,6-difluorophenyl)-pyridinato-N,C²]picolinate] which emits bluelight, Ir(ppy)₃[fac tris(2-phenylpyridine)iridium] (see M. A. Baldo etal., Nature, vol. 403, p. 750 (2000) mentioned previously) which emitsgreen light, or(btp)₂Ir(acac){bis[2-(2′-benzo[4,5-α]thienyl)pyridinato-N,C3]iridium(acetyl-acetonate)}and Ir(piq)₃[tris(1-phenylisoquinoline)iridium] which emit red light, asmentioned in Adachi et al., Appl. Phys. Lett., 78 No. 11, 2001, 1622.

Pt complexes include, for example,

-   2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethyl-21H,23H-porphyrinplatinum (PtOEP)    which emits red light.

Low molecular or dendrite types, for example, iridium cored dendrimerscan be used for the phosphorescent material. Furthermore, derivatives ofthese materials can be also used in a preferred manner.

In addition, when a phosphorescent material is included in the lightemitting layer, the layer preferably includes a host material inaddition to the phosphorescent material.

The host material may be a low molecular weight compound or a highmolecular weight compound, and dendrimers and the like can be also usedas the host material.

For example, CBP (4,4′-Bis(Carbazol-9-yl)-biphenyl), mCP(1,3-bis(9-carbazolyl)benzene), and CDBP(4,4′-Bis(Carbazol-9-yl)-2,2′-dimethylbiphenyl) can be used as the lowmolecular weight compound, whereas, for example, polyvinylcarbazole,polyphenylene, and polyfluorene can be used as the high molecular weightcompound, and derivatives thereof can be also used.

The light emitting layer may be formed by a vapor deposition method, ormay be formed by an application method.

In the case of the formation by an application method, the organic ELelement can be inexpensively manufactured, which is more preferred. Inorder to form the light emitting layer by an application method, asolution containing the phosphorescent material, and if necessary, ahost material can be applied onto a desired base body by a known methodsuch as, for example, an ink-jet method, a casting method, a dippingmethod, printing methods, e.g., relief printing, intaglio printing,offset printing, planographic printing, relief reverse offset printing,screen printing, and gravure printing, a spin coating method.

(Cathode)

The cathode material is preferably, for example, a metal or a metalalloy such as Li, Ca, Mg, Al, In, Cs, Ba, Mg/Ag, LiF, or CsF.

(Anode)

Metals (for example, Au) or other materials with metallic conductivity,for example, oxides (for example, ITO:indium oxide/tin oxide) andconductive polymers (for example, a mixture of polythiophene-polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS)), also can be used as the anode.

(Electron Transporting Layer, Electron Injecting Layer)

Examples of the electron transporting layer and electron injecting layerinclude, for example, phenanthroline derivatives (for example,2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (BCP)), bipyridinederivatives, nitro-substituted fluorene derivatives, diphenylquinonederivatives, thiopyrandioxide derivatives, heterocyclic tetracarboxylicanhydrides such as naphthaleneperylene, carbodiimide, fluorenylidenemethane derivatives, anthraquinonedimethane and anthrone derivatives,oxadiazole derivatives(2-(4-Biphenylyl)-5-(4-tert-butylphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole) (PBD)), andaluminum complexes (for example, Tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum(III) (Alq₃)). Furthermore, in association with the oxadiazolederivatives mentioned above, thiadiazole derivatives with a sulfur atomsubstituted for an oxygen atom of an oxadiazole ring and quinoxalinederivatives having a quinoxaline ring known as an electron attractivegroup can be also used.

(Substrate)

The substrate which can be used for the organic EL element according tothe present invention is not particularly limited on the type such asglass or plastic, or not particularly limited as long as the substrateis transparent, but glass, quartz, light transmissive resin films, etc.are used preferably. In the case of using a resin film (flexiblesubstrate), it is possible to provide the organic EL element withflexibility, which is particularly preferred.

Examples of the resin film include films composed of, for example,polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN),polyethersulfone (PES), polyetherimide, polyether ether ketone,polyphenylenesulfide, polyarylate, polyimide, polycarbonate (PC),cellulose triacetate (TAC), or cellulose acetate propionate (CAP).

In addition, in the case of using the resin film, in order to suppresspermeation of water vapor, oxygen, etc., the resin film may be coatedwith an inorganic substance such as silicon oxide or silicon nitride andused.

(Luminescent Color)

While the luminescent color is not to be considered particularly limitedin the organic EL element according to the present invention, whitelight emitting elements are preferred because the elements can be usedfor various types of lighting devices such as domestic lighting, in-carlighting, and backlights for watches and liquid crystals.

As a method for forming a white light emitting element, multipleluminescent materials are used to simultaneously produce and mixmultiple luminescent colors for obtaining a white light emission,because it is currently difficult to produce a white light emission witha single material. While the combination of multiple luminescent colorsis not to be considered particularly limited, examples thereof include acombination containing three emission maximum wavelengths for blue,green, and red, and a combination containing two emission maximumwavelengths, which uses a complementary relationship such as blue andyellow or as greenish yellow and orange. In addition, the luminescentcolor can be controlled by adjusting the type and amount of theluminescent materials.

<Display Element, Lighting Device, Display Device>

A display element according to the present invention is characterized inthat it includes the already described organic EL element according tothe present invention.

For example, a color display element is obtained by the use of theorganic EL element according to the present invention as elementscorresponding to respective pixels for red, green, and blue (RGB).

Types of image formation includes: a simple matrix type for directlydriving individual organic EL elements arranged on a panel withelectrodes arranged in a matrix form; and an active matrix type fordriving thin film transistors arranged for each element. The former isused to display characters and the like, because the number of verticalpixels is limited although the structure is simple. The latter is usedfor high-definition display, because bright high-definition images areobtained with a small amount of current at a low driving voltage.

In addition, a lighting device according to the present invention ischaracterized in that it includes the already described organic ELelement according to the present invention. Furthermore, a displaydevice according to the present invention is characterized in that itincludes the lighting device and a liquid crystal element as a displaymeans. The display device may be a display device, that is, a liquidcrystal display device which uses the lighting device according to thepresent invention as a backlight (white light emitting light source) anduses a liquid crystal element as a display means. This configurationrefers to a known liquid crystal display device in which only abacklight is replaced with the lighting device according to the presentinvention, and known techniques can be diverted to the liquid crystalelement section.

EXAMPLES

The present invention will be further specifically described below withreference to examples, but is not to be considered limited to thefollowing examples.

Synthesis of Ionic Compound 1

The addition of 4.25 g of hydrobromic acid (48%) to 4.87 g (24.9 mmol)of N,N-Dicyclohexylmethylamine(I), followed by shaking up, resulted inprecipitation of a white crystal. The crystal was left overnight, thenwith the addition of acetone thereto, filtered, washed with acetone,dried to obtain 5.9 g (reaction yield 86%) of white crystal. Checking byproton NMR confirmed the disappearance of N,N-Dicyclohexylmethylamine(I) and the generation of N,N-Dicyclohexylmethylammonium bomide (II).Then, 1.38 g (5.0 mmol) of (II) mentioned above and 35.2 g (5.0 mmol) ofsodium tetrakis(pentaphenyl)borate (10% aq.) were mixed and stirred toseparate a white precipitate. The precipitate was left overnight, thenfiltered, washed with water, and dried to obtain a white solid (yield4.0 g/reaction yield 90%).

Here is the reaction formula of the reaction mentioned above.

Synthesis of Ionic Compound 2

Acetone was mixed with 1.38 g (5 0 mmol) ofN,N-dicyclohexylmethylammonium bomide (II) and 1.35 g (5.0 mmol) ofsodium pentafluorobenzensulfonate, and stirred. A white precipitate wasseparated, thus left overnight, and then filtered, and the solvent ofthe filtrate was distilled away to obtain a semisolid matter. Theoperation of separating a poorly acetone-soluble matter with theaddition of a small amount of acetone to the semisolid matter wasrepeated three times. This repetition removed a white solid (containingNaBr as its main constituent) to provide a pale yellow oily matter(which was left for crystallization) (yield 1.33 g/reaction yield 60%).

Here is the reaction formula of the reaction mentioned above.

Synthesis of Ionic Compound 3

Acetone was mixed with 1.38 g (5 0 mmol) ofN,N-dicyclohexylmethylammonium bomide (II) and 2.72 g (5.0 mmol) ofCesium tris(trifuloromethanesulfonyl)methide, and stirred. A whiteprecipitate was separated, thus left overnight, and then filtered, andthe solvent of the filtrate was distilled away to obtain a semisolidmatter. The operation of separating a poorly acetone-soluble matter withthe addition of a small amount of acetone to the semisolid matter wasrepeated three times. This repetition removed a white solid (containingCsBr as its main constituent) to provide a pale yellow oily matter(yield 2.43 g/reaction yield 80%).

Here is the reaction formula of the reaction mentioned above.

Synthesis of Ionic Compound 4

The addition of 3.4 g of hydrobromic acid (48%) to 4.54 g (20.0 mmol) oftriamylamine (I), followed by shaking up, provided two separated layers.The layers remained, even after leaving the layers overnight, unchangedas oily matters. Checking the upper-layer oily matter by proton NMRconfirmed the disappearance of triamylamine (I) and the generation ofTriamylammonium bomide (II). Then, 1.03 g (3.3 mmol) of (II) mentionedabove and 23.5 g (3.3 mmol) of sodium tetrakis(pentaphenyl)borate (10%aq.) were mixed and stirred to separate a white precipitate. Theprecipitate was left overnight, then filtered, washed with water, anddried to obtain a white solid (yield 2.6 g/reaction yield 87%).

Synthesis of Ionic Compound 5

A small amount of acetone solution of 1.17 g (3.3 mmol) oftris(2-ethylhexyl)amine (I) was mixed with 0.56 g of hydrobromic acid(48%), and left for 1 hour, and the acetone was then removed underreduced pressure to obtain a slightly colored oily matter (II). Then,the (II) mentioned above and 23.1 g (3.3 mmol) of sodiumtetrakis(pentaphenyl)borate (10% aq.) were mixed, and stirred at roomtemperature for 3 hours. The oily matter was extracted with ethylacetate, washed with water, and dried, and the solvent was distilledaway under reduced pressure to obtain oily matter tinged with pale pink(yield 3.3 g/reaction yield 97%).

Synthesis of Ionic Compound 6

A small amount of acetone solution of 0.43 g (3.3 mmol) of dibutylamine(I) was mixed with 0.56 g of hydrobromic acid (48%), and left for 1hour, and the acetone was then removed under reduced pressure to obtainan almost white solid (II). Then, the (II) mentioned above and 23.1 g(3.3 mmol) of sodium tetrakis(pentaphenyl)borate (10% aq.) were mixed,and stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. A precipitate produced wasthus filtered under reduced pressure, washed with water, and dried toobtain a solid slightly tinged with pale yellow. This solid wasdissolved in toluene, washed with water, and dried with anhydrous sodiumsulfate, and the solvent was distilled away under reduced pressure toobtain a pale yellowish solid (yield 2.3 g/reaction yield 85%).

Synthesis of Ionic Compound 7

To 0.50 g (3.3 mmol) of N-ethyl-N-methylbenzylamine (I) mixed with 0.56g of hydrobromic acid (48%), a small amount of acetone was added toprovide a homogeneous solution and left overnight, and the acetone wasthen removed under reduced pressure to obtain a pale yellow oily matter(II). Then, the (II) mentioned above and 23.1 g (3.3 mmol) of sodiumtetrakis(pentaphenyl)borate (10% aq.) were mixed, and stirred at 65° C.for 3 hours. A white precipitate produced was thus filtered underreduced pressure, washed with water, and dried to obtain an almost whitesolid. This solid was dissolved in toluene, washed with water, and driedwith anhydrous sodium sulfate, and the solvent was distilled away underreduced pressure to obtain a pale yellowish solid (yield 2.3 g/reactionyield 85%).

Synthesis of Ionic Compound 8

To 5.56 g (30 mmol) of N,N-dimethyl-n-decylamine (I), 75 g of acetoneand 15 g of pure water were added, and stirred to provide a homogeneoussolution, and 11 g of 10% hydrogen chloride aqueous solution was thenslowly delivered by drops into the homogeneous solution, and stirred for1 hour after the completion of delivering by drops. From this solution,the solvent was distilled away under reduced pressure to obtain a whitesolid (II). Then, the (II) mentioned above and 232.5 g (33 mmol) ofsodium tetrakis(pentaphenyl)borate (10% aq.) were mixed, and stirred for1 hour. A white precipitate produced was thus washed with water fivetimes, filtered under reduced pressure, washed with water, and dried toobtain an almost white solid. This solid was dissolved in methanol, andreprecipitated in pure water, and the methanol was distilled away underreduced pressure. The solid was filtered under reduced pressure, andthen dried under reduced pressure to obtain a white solid (yield 21.3g/reaction yield 82%).

Synthesis of Ionic Compound 9

To 7.24 g (30 mmol) of N,N-dimethyl-n-tetradecylamine (I), 75 g ofacetone and 15 g of pure water were added, and stirred to provide ahomogeneous solution, and 11 g of 10% hydrogen chloride aqueous solutionwas then slowly delivered by drops into the homogeneous solution, andstirred for 1 hour after the completion of delivering by drops. Fromthis solution, the solvent was distilled away under reduced pressure toobtain a white solid (II). Then, the (II) mentioned above and 232.5 g(33 mmol) of sodium tetrakis(pentaphenyl)borate (10% aq.) were mixed,and stirred for 1 hour. A white precipitate produced was thus washedwith water five times, filtered under reduced pressure, washed withwater, and dried to obtain an almost white solid. This solid wasdissolved in methanol, and reprecipitated in pure water, and themethanol was distilled away under reduced pressure. The solid wasfiltered under reduced pressure, and then dried under reduced pressureto obtain a white solid (yield 24.3 g/reaction yield 88%).

Synthesis of Ionic Compound 10

To 8.92 g (30 mmol) of N,N-dimethyl-n-octadecylamine (I), 75 g ofacetone and 15 g of pure water were added, and stirred to provide ahomogeneous solution, and 11 g of 10% hydrogen chloride aqueous solutionwas then slowly delivered by drops into the homogeneous solution, andstirred for 1 hour after the completion of delivering by drops. Fromthis solution, the solvent was distilled away under reduced pressure toobtain a white solid (II). Then, the (II) mentioned above and 232.5 g(33 mmol) of sodium tetrakis(pentaphenyl)borate (10% aq.) were mixed,and stirred for 1 hour. A white precipitate produced was thus washedwith water five times, filtered under reduced pressure, washed withwater, and dried to obtain an almost white solid. This solid wasdissolved in methanol, and reprecipitated in pure water, and themethanol was distilled away under reduced pressure. The solid wasfiltered under reduced pressure, and then dried under reduced pressureto obtain a white solid (yield 25.2 g/reaction yield 86%).

<Synthesis of Charge Transporting Compound> [Preparation of Pd Catalyst]

In a glove box under a nitrogen atmosphere, under room temperature,tris(dibenzylideneacetone) dipalladium (73.2 mg, 80 μmol) was weighed ina sample tube, and with the addition of anisole (15 ml) thereto, stirredfor 30 minutes. Likewise, tris(t-butyl)phosphine (129.6 mg, 640 μmol)was weighed in a sample tube, and with the addition of anisole (5 ml)thereto, stirred for 5 minutes. These solutions were mixed, and stirredat room temperature for 30 minutes to provide a catalyst.

<Synthesis of Charge Transporting Polymer with Cross-Linking Group>

In a three-necked round-bottom flask, the following monomer 1 (4.0mmol), the following monomer 2 (5.0 mmol), the following monomer 3 (2.0mmol), and anisole (20 ml) were added, and further added thereto was theprepared Pd catalyst solution (7.5 ml). After stirring for 30 minutes, asolution (20 ml) of 10% tetraethylammonium hydroxide was added. Thesolvents were all subjected to degassing with nitrogen bubbles for 30minutes or more, and then used. This mixture was refluxed by heating for2 hours. These operations were all carried out under a nitrogen stream.

After the completion of the reaction, the organic layer was washed withwater, and the organic layer was poured into methanol-water (9:1). Theproduced precipitate was subjected to suction filtration, and washedwith methanol-water (9:1). The obtained precipitate was dissolved intoluene, and reprecipitated from methanol. The obtained precipitate wassubjected to suction filtration, dissolved in toluene, and stirredovernight with the addition of triphenylphosphine, polymer-bound onstyrene-divinyl benzene copolymer (from Strem Chemicals, Inc., 200 mgwith respect to 100 mg of the polymer). After the completion ofstirring, the triphenylphosphine, polymer-bound on styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer and the insoluble matter were removed by filtration,and the filtrate was condensed in a rotary evaporator. The residue wasdissolved in toluene, and then reprecipitated from methanol-acetone(8:3). The produced precipitate was subjected to suction filtration, andwashed with methanol-acetone (8:3). The obtained precipitate wasvacuum-dried to obtain the polymer 1. The molecular weight was measuredby GPC (polystyrene equivalent) with the use of THF as an eluent. Theobtained polymer 1 was 7,800 in number average molecular weight, and31,000 in weight average molecular weight.

Example 1 Evaluation of Curability

The polymer 1 (5.0 mg) and the ionic compound 1 (0.15 mg) were dissolvedin a chlorobenzene solution (1000 μl ) to prepare an ink composition.This ink composition was applied onto a quartz plate by spin coating at3000 rpm. Then, on a hot plate, the composition was heated at 180° C.for 10 minutes to develop a polymerization reaction. After the heating,the quartz plate was immersed in toluene for 1 minute to carry outwashing. From the ratio between before and after the washing in theabsorbance (Abs) at the absorption maximum (λmax) in UV-vis spectra, theresidual film ratio was measured. The measurement result is shown inTable 1.

Evaluation of Ink Stability

Under a yellow lamp, the polymer 1 (5.0 mg) and the ionic compound 1(0.5 mg) were dissolved in an anisole solution (500 μl) to prepare anink composition. This ink composition was stored at 25° C. for 5 daysunder a yellow lamp, and the change in viscosity was evaluated with avibration-type viscometer, whereas the change in color was visuallyevaluated. The evaluation result is shown in Table 1.

Evaluation of Charge Transporting Performance

For evaluating the charge transporting performance, an evaluationelement was prepared as follows.

<Preparation of Charge Transporting Performance Evaluation Element>

Onto a glass substrate of 1.6 mm in width, obtained by ITO patterning, amixed solution of the polymer 1 (100 mg), the ionic compound 1 (3.0 mg),and anisole (1.91 mL) were applied by spin coating at 3000 min⁻¹, andheated at 180° C. for 10 minutes on a hot plate to prepare a chargetransporting film (150 nm). Next, the obtained glass substrate wastransferred into a vacuum deposition machine for vapor deposition ofaluminum (100 nm in film thickness).

After the vapor deposition of aluminum, the substrate was transferredinto a dry nitrogen atmosphere without being opened to the atmosphere,and sealing was carried out by attaching sealing glass of 0.7 mmalkali-free glass subjected to spot facing at 0 4 mm and the ITOsubstrate to each other with the use of a light curable epoxy resin,thereby preparing a charge transporting performance evaluation element.

With the ITO of the charge transporting performance evaluation elementas a positive electrode and the aluminum thereof as an anode, a voltagewas applied. The applied voltage in the case of applying a current at 50mA/cm² is shown in Table 1.

Examples 2 to 10

Except that the ionic compound 1 in Example 1 was changed to the ioniccompounds 2 to 10, ink compositions were prepared in the same way as inExample 1 to evaluate the curability, ink stability, and chargetransporting performance. The evaluation results are shown in Table 1.

Comparative Example 1

Except that the ionic compound 1 in Example 1 was changed to thefollowing ionic compound, an ink composition was prepared in the sameway as in Example 1 to evaluate the curability, ink stability, andcharge transporting performance. The evaluation results are shown inTable 1.

Comparative Example 2

Except that the ionic compound 1 in Example 1 was changed to thefollowing ionic compound, an ink composition was prepared in the sameway as in Example 1 to evaluate the curability, ink stability, andcharge transporting performance. The evaluation results are shown inTable 1.

Comparative Example 3

Except that the ionic compound 1 in Example 1 was not added, an inkcomposition was prepared in the same way as in Example 1 to evaluate thecurability, ink stability, and charge transporting performance. Theevaluation results are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Electron Curability Ink Stability Transporting Residual Rate ofPerformance Film Color Viscosity Applied Ionic Compound Ratio (%) ChangeChange (%) Voltage (V) Example 1 Ionic Compound 1 98.1 No <3 1.5 Example2 Ionic Compound 2 95.7 No <3 2.5 Example 3 Ionic Compound 3 97.2 No <32.8 Example 4 Ionic Compound 4 99.4 No <3 1.3 Example 5 Ionic Compound 599.4 No <3 1.3 Example 6 Ionic Compound 6 99.1 No <3 1.5 Example 7 IonicCompound 7 99.6 No <3 1.8 Example 8 Ionic Compound 8 99.4 No <3 1.4Example 9 Ionic Compound 9 99.6 No <3 1.5 Example 10 Ionic Compound 1099.6 No <3 1.5 Comparative Quaternary Ammonium 50.1 No <3 8.2 Example 1Comparative TRB 99.4 Yes Gelation 2.7 Example 2 Comparative Absent 32.3No <3 36 Example 3

From Table 1, it is determined that favorable results have been achievedfor all of the curability, ink stability and charge transportingperformance at the same time in Examples 1 to 7, as compared withComparative Example 1 to 3.

More specifically, curing the deposited layers can develop sufficientresistance to solvents, thereby making it possible to prepare a stackedstructure of organic thin films. In addition, it has been confirmed thatthe material achieves a good balance between curability and inkstability, with high stability in the state of an ink composition.

Furthermore, the organic electronic material according to the presentinvention, which allows hole current to flow easily, is considered tomake a contribution to reduction in voltage for organic electronicelements.

Example 8 Organic EL Element Preparation 1

Onto a glass substrate of 1.6 mm in width, obtained by ITO patterning,an application solution obtained by mixing the polymer 1 (10 mg)obtained above, the ionic compound 1 (0.3 mg), and chlorobenzene (1000μl) was applied by spin coating at 3000 min⁻¹, and then cured by heatingat 180° C. for 10 minutes on a hot plate to form a hole injecting layer(30 nm).

Next, the obtained glass substrate was transferred into a vacuumdeposition machine for vapor deposition of αNPD (40 nm), (αNPD+Ir(piq)₃(5:1, 20 nm), BAlq (10 nm), Alq_(a) (40 nm), LiF (0.5 nm in filmthickness), and Al (100 nm in film thickness) in this order.

After the formation of the electrode, the substrate was transferred intoa dry nitrogen atmosphere without being opened to the atmosphere, andsealing was carried out by attaching sealing glass of 0.7 mm alkali-freeglass subjected to spot facing at 0.4 mm and the ITO substrate to eachother with the use of a light curable epoxy resin, thereby preparing ahigh-molecular type organic EL element of multi-layer structure.Subsequent experiments were made at room temperature (25° C.) in theatmosphere. When a voltage was applied with the ITO of the organic ELelement as a positive electrode and the Al thereof as a cathode, a redlight emission was observed at 3.6 V, and the current efficiency at aluminance of 1000 cd/m² was 1.5 cd/A. It is to be noted thatcurrent-voltage characteristics were measured with microammeter 4140Bfrom Hewlett-Packard Company, whereas the luminance was measured withthe use of a luminance meter Pritchard 1980B from Photo Research, Inc.

Furthermore, as lifetime characteristics, the luminance was measuredwith BM-7 from Topcon Corporation while applying a constant current, tomeasure the half-life of the luminance from the initial luminance (3000cd/m²), which was 420 hours.

Comparative Example 4

Except that the ionic compound 1 was changed to the ionic compound usedin Comparative Example 1, an organic EL element was prepared in the sameway as in Example 8. A red light emission was observed at 6.2 V, and thecurrent efficiency at a luminance of 1000 cd/m² was 1.1 cd/A.Furthermore, as lifetime characteristics, the luminance was measuredwith BM-7 from Topcon Corporation while applying a constant current, tomeasure the half-life of the luminance from the initial luminance (3000cd/m²), which was 6 hours.

From the comparison between Example 8 and Comparative Example 4described above, it is determined that the organic electronic materialaccording to the present invention is also excellent in lifetimecharacteristics.

Example 9 Organic EL Element Preparation 2

Onto a glass substrate of 1.6 mm in width, obtained by ITO patterning,an application solution obtained by mixing the polymer 1 (10 mg)obtained above, the ionic compound 1 (0.3 mg), and toluene (1000 μl) wasapplied by spin coating at 3000 min⁻¹, and then cured by heating at 180°C. for 10 minutes on a hot plate to form a hole injecting layer (30 nm).

Next, the obtained glass substrate was transferred into a vacuumdeposition machine for vapor deposition of αNPD (50 nm), CBP+Ir(ppy)₃(100:6, 30 nm), BAlq (10 nm), Alq₃ (30 nm), LiF (0.8 nm in filmthickness), and Al (150 nm in film thickness) in this order.

After the formation of the electrode, the substrate was transferred intoa dry nitrogen atmosphere without being opened to the atmosphere, andsealing was carried out by attaching sealing glass of 0.7 mm alkali-freeglass subjected to spot facing at 0.4 mm and the ITO substrate to eachother with the use of a light curable epoxy resin, thereby preparing ahigh-molecular type organic EL element of multi-layer structure.Subsequent experiments were made at room temperature (25° C.) in theatmosphere. When a voltage was applied with the ITO of the organic ELelement as a positive electrode and the Al thereof as a cathode, a greenlight emission was observed at 4.3 V, and the current efficiency at aluminance of 1000 cd/m² was 23 cd/A. It is to be noted thatcurrent-voltage characteristics were measured with microammeter 4140Bfrom Hewlett-Packard Company, whereas the luminance was measured withthe use of a luminance meter Pritchard 1980B from Photo Research, Inc.

Furthermore, as lifetime characteristics, the luminance was measuredwith BM-7 from Topcon Corporation while applying a constant current, tomeasure the half-life of the luminance from the initial luminance (3000cd/m²), which was 520 hours.

Comparative Example 5

Except that the hole injecting layer was changed to PEDOT-PSS (Clevios PAI4083), an organic EL element was prepared in the same way as theforegoing (Organic EL Element Preparation 2). When the evaluationexperiment was carried out in the same way as in Example 9, a greenlight emission was observed at 4.3 V, and the current efficiency at aluminance of 1000 cd/m² was 21 cd/A. Furthermore, as lifetimecharacteristics, the luminance was measured with BM-7 from TopconCorporation while applying a constant current, to measure the half-lifeof the luminance from the initial luminance (3000 cd/m²), which was 50hours.

From the comparison between Example 9 and Comparative Example 5described above, it is determined that the organic electronic materialaccording to the present invention is also excellent in lifetimecharacteristics.

<Evaluation of Thermal Stability of Ionic Compound>

In a TG-DTA measurement system EXSTAR 6000 from SII NanoTechnology Inc.,the temperature of 2 mg of the ionic compound 10 was increased at a rateof temperature increase of 5° C./min while flowing nitrogen (400ml/min), and the decrease in weight was measured. As a comparison, thefollowing comparative ionic compound was subjected to the measurementunder the same conditions. Table 2 shows, for each ionic compound, thetemperature for the decrease in weight by 0.5% and the temperature forthe decrease in weight by 5%.

TABLE 2 Comparative Ionic Ionic Temperature Compound 10 CompoundDifference 0.5% Decrease in Weight 235° C. 195° C. Δ40° C.   5% Decreasein Weight 276° C. 221° C. Δ55° C.

From Table 2, it is determined that the ionic compound for use in theorganic electronic material according to the present invention isexcellent in heat resistance. The improvement in thermal stabilitysuppresses material deterioration by baking and damage by volatiles tomanufacturing devices, it is expected that high-performance organic ELelements can be manufactured at a high yield.

Reference Signs List

-   1 light emitting layer-   2 anode-   3 hole injecting layer-   4 cathode-   5 electron injecting layer-   6 hole transporting layer-   7 electron transporting layer-   8 substrate

1. An organic electronic material comprising at least an ionic compound represented by the following general formula (1), and a compound including a charge transporting unit (hereinafter, referred to as a charge transporting compound):

in the general formula (1), R^(a) to R^(c) each independently represent a hydrogen atom (H), an alkyl group, or a benzyl group, and N is not bonded to an aryl group. A represents an anion.
 2. The organic electronic material according to claim 1, wherein the anion is represented by the following formulas (1b) to (5b):

in the general formulas (1b) to (5b), Y¹ to Y⁶ each independently represent a divalent linking group; R¹ to R¹⁶ each independently represent an electron attractive organic substituent, these structures may further have substituents and hetero atoms therein, and R ² and R³, R⁴ to R⁶, R⁷ to R¹⁰, or R¹¹ to R¹⁶ may be each linked to form a ring or a polymer; and E¹, E², E³, E⁴, and E⁵ respectively represent an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, a carbon atom, a boron atom or a gallium atom, and a phosphorus atom or an antimony atom.
 3. The organic electronic material according to claim 1, wherein the charge transporting compound is an aromatic amine, a carbazole, or a thiophene.
 4. The organic electronic material according to claim 1, wherein the charge transporting compound is a polymer or an oligomer.
 5. The organic electronic material according to claim 1, wherein the charge transporting compound comprises one or more polymerizable substituents.
 6. The organic electronic material according to claim 5, wherein the polymerizable substituents are any of an oxetane group, and an epoxy group, and a vinyl ether group.
 7. An ink composition comprising the organic electronic material according to claim 1, and a solvent.
 8. An organic electronic element including a layer formed by applying the organic electronic material according to claim 1 on a substrate.
 9. The organic electronic element according to claim 8, wherein the layer formed has been polymerized for insolubilization.
 10. The organic electronic element according to claim 9, wherein another layer is further formed on the insolubilized layer to provide a multi-layer.
 11. The organic electronic element according to claim 8, wherein the substrate is a resin film.
 12. An organic electronic element including a layer formed by applying the ink composition according to claim 7 on a substrate.
 13. The organic electronic element according to claim 12, wherein the substrate is a resin film.
 14. The organic electronic material according to claim 2, wherein the charge transporting compound is an aromatic amine, a carbazole, or a thiophene.
 15. The organic electronic material according to claim 2, wherein the charge transporting compound is a polymer or an oligomer.
 16. The organic electronic material according to claim 2, wherein the charge transporting compound comprises one or more polymerizable substituents.
 17. An ink composition comprising the organic electronic material according to claim 2, and a solvent. 